Another Samsumana Emerges In APC

Another Samsumana Emerges In APC
According to some members and supporters of the main opposition party, the emergence of Money Jagaban has been viewed as another Samsumana, as Jagaban is being accused on pumping money to win support of those at the top echelon of the party.
Many say that this was the same way that Chief Samsumana came into the party in 2007. They maintained that at that time, the APC was struggling for funds to keep abreast with the ruling SLPP, as Berewa was pumping huge cash into his campaign. Samsumana is said to have been able to salvage the situation by pumping the much needed cash into the campaign of Ernest Bai Koroma, and that resulted in him being made the running mate. In their view, this hitherto unknown personality, Jagaban, has surfaced, and is pumping money like Samsumana did in 2007.

Supporters explained that it is the actions of Jagaban that has prompted him to put himself up as candidate for running mate, and is not a popular candidate, when compared to the others, who are well known and whose foot prints in the party are well documented. They maintained that the party should avoid giving such people preference because they spend money in the party at elections time, and chose the people who are popular and have contributed to the development of the party all these years. They furthered that if Jagaban is chosen as running mate, it will mean that the APC is only interested in people who can bank roll their operations, and not those who are qualified and have served the party through thick and thin. Many say that the activities of Hon. Chericoco has made his mark in the struggle of the party, and if he is sidelined, because he is not as rich as Jagaban, then the whole essence of the party will be eroded. It will simply mean that only those who have money will be given to opportunity to lead the party in any contest. Like Samsumana, who hit the limelight in the party in 2007, barely three months to election, after protracted Court cases, Jagaban has also come into the limelight barely two months to the elections. It is hoped that the authorities in the party will take note of the concerns of the supporters and members of the party, and not to turn the party into business.

2 Months To Elections…
SLPP & C4C Cry Foul
Since the APC’s triumphant entry into Freetown after their National Delegates Conference, during which they elected their respective executives and Flag-Bearer, Dr. Samura Kamara, the ruling SLPP and its partners in C4C have been jittery. Several opposition party executives and members were subject to intimidation and attacks by state security, a blatant one being the attack on its Secretary General at Hill Station by people alleged to be Presidential Guards.
This apparent fear that the unity of the APC will lead to its unquestionable victory in the June 24 elections, has been the jolting force that has propelled the SLPP through its partner, Hon. Emerson Lamina of the C4C, to cast aspersions on the EU Ambassador, during a meeting he attended in Brussels. Many wonder about the connection between Hon. Lamina and the SLPP, to prompt him to take such a bold step to condemn the EU Ambassador in Sierra Leone, when the President and incumbent in the coming Presidential election did not bring this up with the EU in all the respective meetings he had with them, including a private dinner, where he had enough and to spare time to air out any concern he might have had.
Many residents in the country say that it is only right that where one puts his money, he should have a say. In the case of the EU Ambassador, they maintained that as a stakeholder and moral guarantor of the peace in Sierra Leone, it is incumbent on them to ensure that peace is maintained, and any attempt to create tension that has the potential to result in violence that will disturb the peace of the country, they need to make their voices heard.
Some political analysts say that after reviewing all what Hon. Lamina said that the EU Ambassador said, they are of the view that if that was what the Ambassador said, he is not far from the truth, as the prevailing circumstances, including the events of the voter registration process across the country. They wondered whether Hon. Lamina was oblivious of the fact that there were more people registering in Western Area and Makeni than in Bo and Kenema, where the authorities had to implement a lock down, violating the rights of citizens, as there was no emergency situation in force to warrant a lock down. Did Hon. Lamina not know about the complaints of equipment break down reported in most of the strongholds of the main opposition party? Is he not aware that residents had to provide generators to help charge the machines of ECSL staff, after they complained that the machines to register people were not charged?
These political commentators say that the MP should avoid misleading people and face the reality. They maintained that they are aware that he is leaning more on the side of the ruling party, in the hope that it will be re-elected, but now, the odds seem to be against the party, and he is fearful of his fate, as the C4C may pitch tent with the APC, especially now that Samsumana is APC.

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